He’ll most definitely want Rexton, which is out of the question. He’ll also want money, potentially some valuable land, and maybe even a marriage agreement.
He will get none of those things. I don’t care much for forgiveness. This all began with Mammon murdering my baby brother.
I’m willing to bet Prince Nolic hopes the fifty thousand men traveling toward our borders will intimidate us into agreeing to his terms. It won’t.
“Do you think he’s willing to fight?” I ask.
I should already know the answer to this. I volunteered to join Raum’s war camp, but I didn’t anticipate being excluded from leadership meetings. I’ve been given the same amount of information as the foot soldiers, which is next to nothing.
I’m out of the loop, and I fight not to let my embarrassment show.
“Yes,” Androl is quick to say. “Mammon was reserved, but Prince Nolic has never shied away from violence. He’s more than willing to fight.”
He won’t have the opportunity if I have any say in it. There are rules against harming a demon of royal blood during diplomatic visits, but Prince Nolic is fair game the moment he crosses into Wrath. He’s not here on a friendly visit, and if he thinks traveling with only a hundred men will grant him lenience, he’s sorely mistaken.
I’m willing to speak with him, but I have no qualms about killing him should things not go the way I want. Mammon had several children, and perhaps we’ll have better luck with the next one.
I eye the map on the table, noting the marked locations. We’re tracking Prince Nolic’s movements and the larger army following behind. They’re close, maybe only a half-day behind Prince Nolic.
I still can’t believe he’s bringing fifty thousand soldiers to Wrath’s borders. First Unit has only a thousand, and Aziel and General Raum are hoping not to call in the other units. We’re prepared for war—always are—but it’s never the ideal solution.
Assuming Mammon has trained her soldiers, First Unit won’t be able to hold back fifty thousand. The small group PrinceNolic is traveling with will be easy to pick apart, but I’ll have to send word to Raum should conversations with Prince Nolic go poorly.
I pinch my bottom lip, thinking. “I don’t trust Prince Nolic.”
The men around the table make quiet noises of agreement.
The next several hours are spent determining where the First Unit troops will be stationed when Prince Nolic reaches Wrath’s borders. Making these decisions is terrifying, but only a few of my ideas receive pushback. I try to be open to the critique, but it’s hard.
I prefer being right, but I’m willing to admit I’m not the expert.
By the time we have a plan laid out and the officers are leaving to brief their squads, it’s well into the evening. The bugs are out, filling the forest with quiet chirping. About two-thirds of First Unit is sleeping. The other third is keeping watch.
I’m exhausted. These past few days have been more than I ever imagined. I always thought war would be fun, that it would be a never-ending adrenaline rush. It’s turning out to be long and tiring.
“I’m on shift tonight,” Androl says. “We’ll switch in five hours.”
I nod, and he steps out of the leadership tent, leaving Rexton and me alone.
Rexton shoots me a smile. “You did well.”
I shrug, my cheeks warming. Rexton places a hand on the small of my back. It’s a subtle gesture, but it’s meaningful. I could brush him away, making it clear that this thing between us is to remain private. I could reject his touch, and I know he won’t attempt again.
He’s asking permission.
I grant it, and I allow him to keep his hand on my back as we walk out of the privacy of the leadership tent.
He clears his throat. “We should eat, and you need to sleep. Prince Nolic is close, and you’ve drained yourself these past few days.” I’m not going to argue about that. “I’ll bring dinner to our tent.”
We break apart, and I hold my chin high as I return to our tent. Only once I’m safely inside do I let myself slouch and my eyes droop shut. Our tub has been drained, but only one cot remains. Androl must have forgotten to have a second one brought in.
That’s a problem for future Cassia. This has been a long, exhausting day, and I don’t wish to deal with it right now.
I’m half-asleep by the time Rexton returns to our tent, and I shove him away when he nudges my shoulder.
“Eat,” he orders. “Then you can go back to sleep.”
I can tell the food isn’t delicious. It smells bland, and I’m not waking up for bland food.
